AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj says that Albin Kurti's government "plans to stifle" press freedom in Kosovo.
He wrote in a Facebook post that "a prime minister who attacks the media is essentially attacking one of the main pillars of the democratic state. He lynches and attempts to rule with malicious intent."
"Freedom of the press, the space that Kurti's government plans to stifle. Today, we have very few printed newspapers. The time we lack appears in our memory as respect. Writings and opinions, however, are present today on another platform, namely electronic. And undoubtedly, we must defend it as yesterday, today and tomorrow, as a cause and beyond. Freedom of the press is not a privilege of the media, but is the foundation of democracy. It is the voice that holds the government accountable, the mirror that shows society the truth, even when it is difficult to hear," he writes.
"A state that respects the media respects its citizens. Respect for journalists should not be selective, nor conditioned by the questions they ask or the topics they cover. The journalist is not an adversary, but a partner in building a transparent society. From field reports and research, to documentaries that bring untold stories, from daily chronicles to research that requires months of work and dedication, so each of their contributions is a public service," adds Haradinaj.
He recalls that "behind every news story we read or see, there is a team of people who often work in difficult conditions, with long hours and great responsibility."
"A special appreciation also goes to the cameramen and technical teams, those who are always on the front lines, in the rain, in the cold, in unexpected events, documenting reality as it is. Without them, the truth would often remain invisible," he writes.
Haradinaj said that “unfortunately, today we have created a climate where from the top of power we often hear offensive language towards the media”. He said that “this does not serve either democracy or the trust of citizens”. He says that “criticism towards the media is right, but it should be argumentative, not denigrating”.
"A prime minister who attacks the media is essentially attacking one of the main pillars of the democratic state. He lynches and attempts to rule with malicious intent," he writes.
"I believe in a different approach. In an open, fair and honest relationship with the media. There will be no closing of doors, no avoiding questions and, above all, no derogatory language. Because our responsibility is not to choose the questions, but to provide answers. The media must be free, independent and protected. Journalists must feel secure in their work, supported in their mission. And we, as political representatives, must be guarantors of this environment. I am on their side, not to use them, but to respect them. Not to silence them, but to listen to them. Because a society without free media is a society without a voice. And I believe in a Kosovo where the voice of truth never stops", adds Haradinaj.
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